Church commemorates 140th
anniversary of Knock apparition
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| The Knock Basilica, with crowds gathered for Pope Francis' visit in August 2018 (ANSA) |
Wednesday August 21st, marks the 140th anniversary of the
Apparition at Knock, in which the Blessed Virgin Mary; St Joseph; Saint John
the Baptist; and Christ, as the Lamb of God upon the altar, appeared to
townspeople in a small village in western Ireland.
By Christopher Wells
Since the time of the apparition, the Shrine at Knock has
been a focal point for devotion for Catholics from Ireland and around the
world. Last year, Pope Francis visited the shrine during his Apostolic Journey
to Ireland – following in the footsteps of St John Paul II, who made the
pilgrimage during his visit to Ireland in 1979, the centenary of the
apparition.
During the celebration of the anniversary, the Shrine at
Knock will welcome a new processional pilgrim statue, blessed last week in Rome
by Pope Francis. The shrine is also unveiling a model of the village as it
stood in 1879. On Wednesday evening, there is a pilgrim walk following in the
steps of the original witnesses to the apparition. Both the Archbishop of Tuam,
Michael Neary; and Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the papal nuncio to Ireland,
will be taking part in the various events. The celebration will conclude with
holy Mass celebrated at the Apparition Chapel at 8 pm, the time the apparitions
began.
Father Richard Gibbons is the parish priest in Knock, and
rector of the Shrine. He spoke with Vatican News about the meaning of the
phenomenon.
“No message was spoken, and that’s one of the key aspects of
the apparition,” he said. “The message was in what they saw in the tableau that
appeared before them.”
The vision consisted in the figures of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, St Joseph, and St John the Baptist; as well as a lamb upon the altar – a
symbol of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God – and a cross, surrounded by what
witnesses described as fluttering wings or angels. The image appeared amidst a
bright light, which was seen even by people at some distance from the church.
Father Gibbons explained that the Blessed Virgin has always
had “a special part in the spirituality of the Irish people,” and noted a
“great dedication” to St Joseph as protector of the Church. In the apparition,
St John the Evangelist appeared, somewhat unusually, with a mitre; he is also
holding a book, and has his hand raised, as if preaching the Word of God.
But at the heart of the vision, Fr Gibbons said, “is not Our
Lady at all – it’s the altar, the Lamb, and the cross, signifying the
Eucharist.” He recalled that “even during the darkest days of the penal laws”
in Ireland, “the Mass was extremely important for people for maintaining their
faith.” He quoted an old saying, “For the Irish, it was the Mass that
mattered.”
Forty years ago, St John Paul II visited the Shrine of Knock
for the centenary of the Apparition. Last year, Pope Francis followed in the
footsteps of his predecessor, making a pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuary
during his own visit to Ireland. Both Popes emphasized the importance of Knock,
both for helping maintain the faith, but also as an impetus for evangelization.
Father Gibbons said Pope Francis gave a “signal of hope” that Knock – like
other shrines around the world – “would be oases of peace and also places where
people could re-engage again with the faith.”
Today, said Fr Gibbons, Knock “is thriving.” “Our complete
focus is on the renewal of faith in the country,” he explained. “So whatever we
do here at Knock is always, how can we reach to people? How can we speak the
faith to them again? How can we re-engage with them and get them to see
the beauty of Catholicism and the practice of the Faith. And to do it in such a
way that we recognize where people are at in their own personal faith.” He
especially pointed to the Sacrament of Confession, which he described as the
“engine room” of the shrine. “That’s where the miracles occur, and that’s where
you can really see that peace and re-engagement with God that takes place.”
Father Gibbons acknowledged the difficulties and scandals
that have plagued the Church in Ireland in recent years, but said, “We’re
extremely hopeful.” He offered his best wishes to all on the anniversary of the
anniversary, and expressed the hope that people will continue to visit the
Shrine of Knock, where, he said, “You’ll be greeted with a warm, hearty, joyful
Irish welcome.”
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